1. ECOLOGY CHAPTERS 18-23
Study of the interactions between organisms & the living & non-living components of their environment.

2. Today’s Environment Ecological problems Exploding human population
Mass Extinction
Thinning ozone layer
Climatic changes

3. Ecological Research Conducted using three basic principles: Observing
Experimenting
Modeling

4. Energy Flow Main energy source for life on earth Autotrophs
SUN
Autotrophs
Make food by means of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis
PRODUCERS
Heterotrophs
Rely on other organisms for food
CONSUMERS

5. Types of Heterotrophs Herbivores: eat plants Carnivores: eat animals
Omnivores: eat both (plants/animals)
Detritovores: eat dead matter
Ex. Earthworms
Decomposers: break down organic matter
Ex. Fungi

6. Food Chains & Food Webs Food Chain Food Web
Shows how living things transfer energy by eating & being eaten
Food Web
Links all food chains in an ecosystem together
Shows a network of complex interactions

8. Levels of Organization
Description
Biosphere
Broadest, most inclusive level
Thin volume of earth & its atmosphere that supports life
Ecosystem
Includes all living & non-living components found in a particular place
Pond: fish, turtle, water, etc.
Community
All interacting organisms living in an area
May contain thousands of species
Population
All members of a species that live in one place at one time
Organism
Simplest level of organization

9. Ecosystem Recycling
The Water Cycle

10. Nitrogen Cycle

11. Carbon Cycle

12. Biosphere Cycles
Click on diagram to play a video on Biosphere Cycles…

13. Ecology of Organisms Habitat Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors
Where an organism lives
Biotic Factors
Living components of an environment
Abiotic Factors
Physical & chemical (non-living) characteristics of an environment
Temperature, light, humidity, pH, salinity, O2 concentration, precipitation, etc
Abiotic factors are not constant

14. Biomes Tropical Rain Forest Desert Tundra Taiga Grassland Savanna
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Chapparal

15. Biomes of the World

16. Tolerance Curve
Graph of performance vs. values of an environmental variable, such as temp.

17. Terms Acclimation Conformers Regulators Dormancy Migration
An organism’s ability to adjust their tolerance to abiotic factors, such as high elevation
Conformers
Do no regulate internal conditions
Regulators
Use energy to control some internal conditions
Dormancy
State of reduced activity
Migration
Movement to a more favorable environment

18. Niche A species’ way of life; the role it plays in its environment
Fundamental Niche
Range of conditions a species can potentially tolerate & range of resources it can potentially use
Realized Niche
Range of resources a species actually uses

19. Generalists vs. Specialists
Species with a broad niche
Virginia opossum (feeds on anything)
Specialist
Species with narrow niches
Koala bear (eats only leaves of eucalyptus tree)

20. Community Ecology Symbiosis: Relationships among species Predation
Predator kills & consumes prey
Parasitism
One organism benefits & other is harmed
Competition
Species compete for same resources
Mutualism
Cooperative relationship in which both species benefit
Commensalism
One organism benefits & the other is not affected

21. Succession The gradual, sequential regrowth of a species in an area.
Primary succession
Development of a community in an area that has not supported life previously, such as bare rock, sand dunes, or an island formed from volcanic eruption.
Secondary succession
Sequential replacement of species that follows disruption of an existing community.
Pioneer species: species that predominate early in succession
Climax community: Stable end point following succession

22. Environmental Science
A field of science that uses biological principles to look at the relationships between humans & the earth.

23. Human Effects on Environment
Declining ozone
Greenhouse Effect
CO2 Blanket; increase temperature
Human Population Growth

24. Effect of Rising Population
Burn more fossil fuels
Less fresh drinking water
Decrease in undeveloped land
Extinction of many species
Increase in human waste
Less food
More disease & death
Potentially more natural disasters

25. Taking Action!! Conservation Biology
An area of science which tries to identify & maintain natural areas
Restoration Biology
An attempt at saving a devastated area